Hame-tug



(No Model.)

T. L. RIVERS.

HAME'TUG.

No. 325,013. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

LONE?! 1.7V" VEJV TOR (23033248 fiiziera .dtlforneys time STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. RIVERS, OF MONTOLAIR, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD 'lO JOSEPIITNE THOMAS, OF NEVARK, NE\V JERSEY.

HAM E-TUG.

SPIECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,013, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed May 21, 1885 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Trrorms L. RIVERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hame-Tugs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to hame-tugs; and it has for its object, first, to provide improved means for attaching the trace-plate to the tracecarrier or any one 01' the sections composing the tug; second, to provide an improved connection for the sections, and, third, to provide an improved construction of clip by which to connect the tug with the hame.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 a face View of my improved hame-tug. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one of the sections. Fig. 4 is a detail View of one of the sections from the outer side thereof. Fig. 5 is a detailview of one of the tugsections, taken from the inner side thereof. Fig 6 is a detail view of the clip, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the trace-plate in sectional elevation.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A represents the tug, which consists of a series of sections, B. These sections B are beveled 011 their ends in order that they may flex or bend when connected together, and thus give to the movements of the draft-animal.

Each of the sections B is formed near one end with a rectangular opening, a, which is countersunk, as shown, thus forming a projecting ledge or shoulder, b.

Upon the under side of each of the hamesections B, at the end at which the opening a. is located, is provided a recess or channel, (I, for a purpose which will be explained.

Extending from the outer or opposite ends of the hame-sections B are lips G, which are formed on their outer sides with flanges d,

(No model.)

of the said lips, thus forming a head, 6, between the inner end of which and the hamesections the said lips are left plain. In joining the sections the lip of one section is turned transversely to the openingin the adj acentsection and passed through said opening from the under side thereof, the head on the lip resting on the countersink of the opening and its outer side being flush with the outer face of the section, the plainportion of the lip resting in the recess or channel (I. By this arrangement a connection is provided whereby the sections maybe readily and quickly attached one to the other, and which will securely hold the sections against accidental detachment.

I prefer to employ a trace-carrier, D,which is provided with a projecting lip having a head, which lip and head are adapted to engage the opening of any one of the hame-sections. Each of the sections B is formed adjacent to the opening a wit-h a Tshaped opening, 6, and the trace-carrier is provided with a similarlyshaped opening, f. hen the tracecarrier is employed, the traceplate is connected with the opening f thereof, as will be more fully described; but if the trace-carrier is omitted the trace-plate may be connected with any one of the hamesections B.

E represents thetrace-plate, which is formed upon its under side with a projecting T-shaped lug, G, and at its inner end with an extending tongue, H.

Pivotcd in a recess of the trace-plate is an arm or lever, I, formed at its outer end with a nib, J, which projects through an opening in the trace-plate and bears against the end of the T-shaped lug thereon.

A cam projection, g, is formed on the inner side of the lever at the point at which it is pivoted, and beariugagainst said cam projeo tion is a fiat spring, /1,\\'hichservcs to hold the nib of the lever in the opening in the trace plate by pressing said cam projection outwardly.

\Vhen the trace-plate is to he engaged with the trace carrier or one of the hamesections, it is entered in the T-shaped opening. The nih on the end of the lever also enters the opening and acts as a key or wedge, forcing the lip or which project beyond the sides and outer ends tongue on the T'shaped lug to engagethe side of the section surrounding the opening, and holding the lug in engagement with the opening until the inner end of the same has been depressed to remove the nib from engagement with the opening, when thelug can be readily removed.

The hame-section located adjacent to the hame upon the neck of the draft-animalis provided with ears or lugs i, between which is pivoted a clip, j. The said clip j is composed of two sections, which are pivoted in place by the bolt Z, and are adapted to lap, as shown, being reduced at their outer ends, so as to form a smooth joint, when closed, and at their inner ends with fingers m, adapted to lap to form the bearing attheinner end of the clip.

Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a hanie-tug, the combination of the series of sections having countersunk openings at one end, forming ledges or shoulders, and projecting lips located at the other ends of the sections and having flanges,whereby,when the sections are engaged, the flanges will rest on the ledges of the next adjacent section, sub stantially as set forth.

2. In a hanie tug, the combination of the series of sections having countersunk openings at one end, forming ledges or shoulders, and projecting lips located at the other ends of the sections and having flanges at theirouter ends, whereby, when the sections are engaged, the flanges will rest on the ledges of the next adjacent section, and channels on the under sides of the sections at the ends at which the openings are located, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hame-tug, the combination of the series of sections having projectinglips formed with flanges located at one end thereof, countersunk openings at the other ends of the sections, T-sha-ped openings in the sections, and a trace plate having a T-shapedlug,as set forth.

4. The combination,with the trace-plate, of a lever pivoted in an opening thereof and a nib located at the outer end of the lever and projecting at right angles to the latter, asset I forth.

5. The combination, with the trace plate having the lug of a form to fit an opening in any one of the series of hame-sections, of a pivoted lever having a nib, a cam projection on the lever, and a flat spring bearing against the same, as set forth.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own Ihavehereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. THOMAS L. RIVERS.

Witnesses:

ABRAHAM MANNERS, JAMES H. THOMAS. 

